The President has been inclusive of the left in his cabinet, appointing NDFP nominees to his administration. They must also reciprocate that gesture by also announcing a ceasefire. Sen. Leila de Lima has called on the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) to reciprocate President Rodrigo Duterte’s unprecedented declaration of a unilateral ceasefire amid efforts to broker peace with the left and finally end one of the the world’s last remaining communist insurgencies. In his first Sona, he allowed left-leaning organizations to march close to the Batasang Pambansa, a mass gathering disallowed in previous administration. ADVERTISEMENTReturning Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri expressed enthusiasm over Mr. Duterte’s announcement, appealing on rebels to lay down their arms.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 26, 2016 11:26 UTC